I have two W2 meters and I like them .. But I do not rely upon them for accurate power readings.. My more practical use is to use my peripheral vision to keep tabs on what's going on while I'm on the air and be alert for unexpected changes.
I think the Bird 43, when fully calibrated, claims plus or minus 5% accuracy at full scale on their analog dial. The W2 is probably close to that, but not quite (maybe 6% at best) ... there are 17 leds on the 0-20 watt meter scale .. Doing the math, on the 2KW scale, that's about 118 watts per LED ... so the power has to increase about 118 watts before the next LED will light up, etc., etc. Yes, you can get a reading of presumed accuracy to the nearest watt if you us the W2 software and keep a window running on your computer . but the LED display itself is only capable of reading plus or minus 118 of actual wattage on the 2 KW scale.. And I've never bothered to calibrate to see what it takes for the next LED to light up .. Does it change when you (1) just cross the new threshold, (2) hit the midrange area of the next step, or (3) go the full distance. Bottom line, it really doesn't matter, but I do not use a W2 to obtain accurate power readings just from the LED display. Don, N5LZ -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Fred Smith Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 8:28 AM To: 'NZ0T'; elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 wattmeter Bill is 100% right on about the W2,it is most useful on screen for extreme QRP if you don't have a WM-2 QRP meter. But like I said earlier it is very close for all ranges both of my couplers are 2k's but still not bad for QRP. 73, Fred/N0AZZ K3 Ser #'s 6730/5299--KX3 # 2573--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100 P3/SVGA--KPA500--KAT500--W2 -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of NZ0T Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 7:16 AM To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] W2 wattmeter Very happy with my W2. I have the 2KW coupler. Seems pretty accurate and the LED display is great for casual use. I don't always keep the display up on the computer but it's very useful when greater resolution than the LED display is desired. 73 Bill NZ0T -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/W2-wattmeter-tp7575272p7575286.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 3199/6413 - Release Date: 06/15/13 ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html